Chamwe Kaira
Namibia imported 1 079 GWh of electricity from South Africa in the financial year ending 31 March 2025, according to Eskom’s international sales by country report.
The imports cost Namibia N$1.5 billion in revenue contributions to Eskom.
Eskom’s 2025 reporting suite covers the financial year ended 31 March 2025 and includes events up to 29 September, when the board approved the reports.
Namibia’s imports more than doubled from 423 GWh in 2024 but were below the 1,653 GWh recorded in 2022.
During the same period, Eskom concluded a firm supply agreement with Namibia, Botswana and Zambia to strengthen regional trade and support drought-hit markets.
The report listed Namibia among Eskom’s top international customers, with total international sales contributing N$21.6 billion in revenue. Namibia, together with other Southern African countries, forms part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), which enables cross-border trade and grid stability.
Eskom’s integrated report for 2025 notes that international electricity sales rose 40% year-on-year, driven by emergency supply and opportunistic sales to neighbouring states.
“This growth was partly driven by drought, which reduced hydropower availability in the region. To stabilise supply, Eskom finalised or extended long-term power contracts with Namibia, Botswana and Zambia,” the utility said.
Namibia was among the top buyers of South African electricity alongside Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Eskom noted that firm agreements will become more common as Southern Africa’s generation mix diversifies.
Eskom Group chief executive officer Dan Marokane said progress with the utility’s turnaround plan to stabilise energy security has restored confidence in potential investors.
He estimated that South Africa’s economy lost up to N$2.8 trillion due to loadshedding in 2023, with losses reduced by 83% to N$481 billion in 2024.
“Despite that improvement, we acknowledge that our generation plant performance in recent years has been unacceptable, and we are grieved by the damage we caused to the economy and the lives of all South Africans,” Marokane said.
Caption
Namibia is one of the biggest importers of electricity from South Africa.
- Photo: Eskom
